Blue Jays release John Axford from minor-league deal

john-axford-as-member-of-blue-jays

John Axford, as a member of the Toronto Blue Jays. (Frank Gunn/CP)

The Toronto Blue Jays have released right-hander John Axford from his minor-league contract, the team announced Saturday.

Axford signed a deal with the Blue Jays on Feb. 14, but has since suffered from a stress reaction on his elbow that would cause him to miss a good chunk of games at the start of the season.

The Simcoe, Ont., native pitched 45 games for Toronto last season before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 35-year-old finished the 2018 season with a 4-1 record, a 5.27 ERA and a 1.354 WHIP in 54.2 innings between Toronto and Los Angeles.

Axford made it known in the off-season that he hoped to return to the Blue Jays.

The Blue Jays also announced Saturday that right-handed reliever Bud Norris has received a retention bonus to stay with the team, and he remains off the 40-man roster. Norris’s retention bonus is $100,000, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi.

Norris pitched for the St. Louis Cardinals last season and finished the year with a 3-6 record, 3.59 ERA and 1.249 WHIP in 57.2 innings pitched.

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